I don't relish the idea of trying to prove that to some jobsworth. Having said that, I also don't wish to pay for something I haven't got.
Although their language tends to suggest the opposite, the burden of proof does actually lie on them. They have to prove that you have TV broadcast receiving equipment installed, or that you use iPlayer.
We didn't have a TV for years and used to get these annual threatening letters promising dire visitations. We ignored them: they have no legal right to enter your property.
It's easy to spot if the streaming content requires a TV license because a screen comes up asking you if you have a TV license.
Every time you buy anything like a TV, BluRay player, etc, the shop asks four address - and then you get a letter from TV Licensing. Best way round this is to give the postcode of a public building - I use either 10 Downing Street or Broadcasting House - and then the relevant house number 🤣
Yesterday we went for a long walk with the aim of going to a rather nice French patisserie we know. They have another branch much nearer us, but it always has a queue outside, whereas this branch is quieter, maybe because it's in a high street with lots of other lovely looking bakeries. Anyway the mission was successful and we returned with some bread that was demolished yesterday lunch time and some pain au chocolat with extra almond filling for breakfast this morning. We had wanted almond croissants but they had run out. I've never had that combination before, is it a real French thing @la vie en rouge , or are they going for a mash-up? We've decided next time we'll try the plain croissants and maybe some of their home-made raspberry jam. So much for healthy eating.
I haven't read the whole page, but two things which were news to me:
- you need a licence to use iPlayer (but not non-BBC catchup services). Does this explain why BBC radio catchup has been put in the separate BBC Sounds app (so Piglet can still listen to Carols from King's)?
- there is a facility to submit a 'no licence needed' declaration - which I guess essentially gets you in the system without buying a licence.
Does this explain why BBC radio catchup has been put in the separate BBC Sounds app (so Piglet can still listen to Carols from King's)?.
I don't think so - Radio podcasts were always separate from iPlayer. One thing though which people may not realise is that you can get radio channels via Freeview on a Smart TV - eg Radio 3 is channel 703. Radio licences were scrapped in 1971.
Many years ago we did not have a TV and, consequently, no license. The inspector turned up one evening at 6.30 (a common time to catch people watching soaps). You do not have to let them in but I did as I wanted to stop the constant reminder letters. I showed him the lack of TV in the lounge and then into the kitchen where my toddler was bouncing up and down in his high chair to the theme tune from the archers. He said I obviously did not have a TV. The letters stopped.
We got a TV license once it was required for watching iPlayer. You also cannot watch live broadcast TV online such as on the BBC website.
I've done some admin and am about to do some marking. This evening I am teaching a tutorial on grief (mostly grieving models) for 2 hours.
@Sarasa almond croissants are a real thing, as are pains au chocolat*. You do occasionally see viennoiseries containing both, but they're not hugely common. I'm not sure what the proper shape would be.
*Known as chocolatines in the South. When in foie gras land, I have been known to buy them just for the pleasure of the different name.
Thanks for that @la vie en rouge , these were pain au chocolat shape but with almond filling inside as well as chocolate and almond on top too. I had it at about 7.30 and I'm not really ready for lunch, so it was pretty filling.
A lovely sunny day here. I've been for a brisk walk, coming home via the supermarket for ingredients for Friday night pasta and pesto.
Our local Co-Op does some nice pains au chocolat , and also a sort of croissant (which isn't actually crescent-shaped) with a CHEESE filling.
I had one for Second Breakfast today. First Breakfast was Toast with Peanut Butter.
Lunch is SOSSIDGES with Sweet Potato Fries - which, I'm told, are better for one's health than the ordinary Potato. Is this so? I like Sweet Potatoes, so I was pleased to find that the Co-Op sells them in ready-chipped form, freezer for the storage in.
I believe sweet potatoes are higher in fibre and vitamin A than ordinary ones; maybe not so much if you eat the skins of the ordinary. I prefer them to ordinary ones but Mr Nen doesn't so we have some and some. They don't take so long to cook, which I think is an advantage.
I'm walking with a friend this afternoon, which is just as well because it's overcast and chilly here and left to myself I wouldn't go at all, or I'd just amble round the block fiddling with my phone and pretend it was exercise.
Later we have our online wine tasting Zoom with friends which is always a treat and I'm going to sample the pink gin I received from Nenlet1 as a Mother's Day gift. I went out especially this morning to purchase (among other things) the Mediterranean tonic which I'm told is the necessary mixer (essential food journey). Then I'm doing green curry for tea which will be accompanied by a Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc. We've been enjoying the Barefoot Merlot a lot so I thought we'd give the white a try.
Alas, it is with a heavy heart that I have to confess that I left the Sossidges and Sweet Potato Fries in the oven for far too long. They have been consigned to the Great God Bin as a burnt offering...
The Fries were the last in the bag, so an Expotition is called for.
Meanwhile, ordinary Baked Potato, and Irish Stew, beckon. I think (if I'm really careful) I may just be able to manage to cook them without destroying them...
We haven't had a TV licence for years, as our TV is American and won't pick up the British signal. It was a bit annoying when they changed the rules about iPlayer, but we haven't yet got annoyed enough to shell out the cash. Every 2 years they send me an email and I have to click on it to say, no, we still don't need a licence, and then they leave us alone again. We've never had a visit.
*Googles moules et frites* Wow. That's posh! Sounds as though you're well set up for beverages as well @Firenze .
Sorry to hear about the cremation of the Sossidges and Fries @Bishops Finger . Baked potato and Irish stew sound good, though. I'm back from my walk and having stood for ages talking to my friend outside her house when we'd finished I'm thoroughly chilled and a hot hearty meal is just what's needed. I'll just head on round. Oh wait...
I can't help feeling that Chateau @Firenze has its priorities right! Just out of interest, what Czech beer do you favour? Our local Co-Op sells St*rop*am*n, which I find refreshing after a hot cremation cooking session...
I go now to prepare the Baked Potato and Irish Stew (wot is in a Tin).
I watched a streamed funeral today - the husband of a church friend. It was so odd, not many people, everyone wearing masks, no singing or contact - all very sad.
P’s sense of human was obvious though - the music at the start was Queen’s “Who wants to live forever” and “Another one bites the dust “to finish!
I can't help feeling that Chateau @Firenze has its priorities right! Just out of interest, what Czech beer do you favour? Our local Co-Op sells St*rop*am*n, which I find refreshing after a hot cremation cooking session...
Budvar. Fond memories of a bar in Prague where that was the only beer, so you had just to hold up fingers corresponding to the number of flagons you required.
Even fonder memories of visiting the Staropramen brewery and drinking the stuff piped up directly from the tanks below...
I can't help feeling that Chateau @Firenze has its priorities right! Just out of interest, what Czech beer do you favour? Our local Co-Op sells St*rop*am*n, which I find refreshing after a hot cremation cooking session...
Budvar. Fond memories of a bar in Prague where that was the only beer, so you had just to hold up fingers corresponding to the number of flagons you required.
Even fonder memories of visiting the Staropramen brewery and drinking the stuff piped up directly from the tanks below...
Bizarrely, Budweiser, of the same ultimate origin, is possibly the worst beer in the world. Certainly the most tasteless. God alone knows why it has a Light version? How is it different from soda water?
It's actually not as bad as the previous ones - outdoor exercise is not time limited, and you can go up to 10 km from home. I think the main idea is to keep those of in the most plague infested regions from transporting it around the country.
We had been planning a trip to the Seaside™ in April. We might still just make it if the lockdown isn't extended. <crosses everything>.
I think mentioning the name of BEER, ALE or WINE is OK vis à vis advertising, as it's really just for identification purposes.
BF and Nen, you may help yourselves to my share of the sweet potatoes; I wish I liked them, but I just don't. I tried them in Newfoundland where, as with ordinary chips, they managed to make them simultaneously greasy and burnt - not a pleasant combination.
I'm enjoying a glass or two of Paddle Creek Sauv Blanc from New Zealand to accompany my risi et bisi - it really is one of the nicest, simplest dishes you could imagine.*
* I know it's Friday, and the Golden Chip may be in danger of going bust without my weekly order of scampi and chips, but I just didn't feel like it today.
This week has been busy: two of the staff, plus the boss, were all on holiday, leaving myself and B. (one of the midwives) more-or-less on our own. I feel that my contribution to the running of the office is very small in the General Scheme Of Things, but I do whatever I can. This week, that included stopping into Gr*gg's on my way in to get BACON rolls, to which she's particularly partial, thereby making her very happy.
On my way home on the train, I got a lovely text message from her to say thank you for making her week a bit more bearable. Have I mentioned before that I really love my new job and my colleagues?
I'm off on Monday (last day of this year's annual leave), and going to meet Coen, my new great-nephew, tomorrow, so it should be a much nicer weekend than usual.
The NHS would collapse without the administration minions. My boss has had to admit defeat this time round and get maternity cover for me as she is too busy running clinics.
I am currently trying to get bedtime finished with the aid of peanut butter toast.
Do you think I can't tell the difference between peanut butter and spam?
Sorry - I couldn't resist the juxtaposition of yours and Pendragon's posts!
Seriously though, it looks genuine enough - the sending e-mail address is bbcaccount@bbc.co.uk, which you'd think would be kosher, and the logos looked right.
There was also a link (which I can't find again) that showed a still from Carols from King's, which I'm absolutely certain I didn't watch (I listened to the radio broadcast, but not the TV one), and that was on Christmas Eve - hardly "recent".
Do you mean that my one is likely to be some kind of scam - that some nerdy toe-rag has latched on to conversations I've had here and somehow managed to get my e-mail address and scare the bejaysus out of me?
Had my very first Zoom meeting today. I had to go into work to borrow a functional laptop and decent wifi which is usually the opposite of the point of zoom, but still pretty painless. No interrupting cats though, most disappointing
My BBC iplayer emails come from bbc@bbc.co.uk and the website to sign in is account.bbc.com
From addresses are easily spoofed.
The BBC is bbc.co.uk, not bbc.com - and anyway the link you see isn't necessarily the real link. Hover with your mouse over it to see where it really goes.
I notice scammers are very up on things that you're likely to have done - eg 'thank you for your Amazon order: you have been charged £399.00'
I can remember one borderline fraudster trying to sell me some health product with a line of 'Your recent tests show...' - because us dotty oldsters are always having some test or other are we not.
thank you for your Amazon order: you have been charged £399.00'
Ah, That one! The number of times I've had that call my bank account ought to be empty by now!
It did cause Mr RoS some problems last weekend. I got the call on Friday, and on Saturday had a totally unexpected, un-ordered delivery from A..z..n. I suggested to Mr RoS that it might actually be that bit of technology, as the box was just the right size.
Shortly afterwards I got an email from Elder son saying that I shouldn't open my recently delivered parcel until Mothering Sunday - so, from him, as I had suspected.
Come Sunday Mr RoS had still not grasped that the parcel was not the subject of Friday's phone call, and I wasn't going to have to pay £399.00 for it.
I got two emails supposedly from the US Inland Revenue Service this morning, my earning power obviously has further reaches than I thought.
It’s the internal post-graduate research conference today and I need to present my research proposal this afternoon so that’s exciting. I’m skipping my morning walk as I always get anxious before something like this and nervous that I will be late.
I was about to ask yet another (unrelated) question - this time about why I hadn't received any bumph about the census tomorrow, but having googled it, I've discovered that the Scottish one has been postponed until next year because of Covid.
That's all right then - I needn't worry about breaking yet more laws!
Time to get up and organised - I really ought to do some housework and have some brekkie before my brother and sister-in-law come to pick me up to go and meet Coen.
I did the census earlier in the week, including for my mother whose care home sent me a form. It seemed heavily weighted towards questions about work.
Just been for a walk looking out for magnolia trees. If we ever manage to move we want one, so are seeing what ones we like.
Do you mean that my one is likely to be some kind of scam - that some nerdy toe-rag has latched on to conversations I've had here and somehow managed to get my e-mail address and scare the bejaysus out of me?
Without knowing your Internet habits, you may have created a BBC account ages ago to comment on a message board*, vote in a competition (Strictly?) or something else. The account suffixes fit (my account is at bbc.com) so it's probably not a scam/spam/etc.
On bbc.co.uk, click on 'My account' or similar at the top left of the page and it will tell you how to delete the account. You may have to log in first, but as long as you know the relevant email address you can reset it.
*Mine was set up years before iPlayer in order to comment on The Archers. The board was known as Mustardland due to its strangely-coloured background.
I did the census earlier this week, and was slightly stumped by: What is the main purpose of the organisation for which you work? (160 characters)
I work for a church, and was tempted to write "being a church". What would you have put?
That bit in Matthew about looking after the sick, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison etc. etc. - you know, all the stuff the *government* doesn't do...
I will probably get a visit from the Immigration people, as I put down my origins as *Part Irish and part French* - which is true, as my Ma's family on her father's side was Irish (Dubliners, no less), and my Pa's family may have originally come to England with William of Normandy...
Comments
Although their language tends to suggest the opposite, the burden of proof does actually lie on them. They have to prove that you have TV broadcast receiving equipment installed, or that you use iPlayer.
It wouldn't take them long to search my flat and fail to find a TV.
Well, since you need to log into iPlayer, they would need to be able to link an iPlayer account with your email address...
Or ip records linking to your internet provider and thence on to you.
It's easy to spot if the streaming content requires a TV license because a screen comes up asking you if you have a TV license.
You haven't needed a Radio License since 1971.
A year earlier, I think It cost £1-5s
I haven't read the whole page, but two things which were news to me:
- you need a licence to use iPlayer (but not non-BBC catchup services). Does this explain why BBC radio catchup has been put in the separate BBC Sounds app (so Piglet can still listen to Carols from King's)?
- there is a facility to submit a 'no licence needed' declaration - which I guess essentially gets you in the system without buying a licence.
We got a TV license once it was required for watching iPlayer. You also cannot watch live broadcast TV online such as on the BBC website.
I've done some admin and am about to do some marking. This evening I am teaching a tutorial on grief (mostly grieving models) for 2 hours.
*Known as chocolatines in the South. When in foie gras land, I have been known to buy them just for the pleasure of the different name.
A lovely sunny day here. I've been for a brisk walk, coming home via the supermarket for ingredients for Friday night pasta and pesto.
I had one for Second Breakfast today. First Breakfast was Toast with Peanut Butter.
Lunch is SOSSIDGES with Sweet Potato Fries - which, I'm told, are better for one's health than the ordinary Potato. Is this so? I like Sweet Potatoes, so I was pleased to find that the Co-Op sells them in ready-chipped form, freezer for the storage in.
I believe sweet potatoes are higher in fibre and vitamin A than ordinary ones; maybe not so much if you eat the skins of the ordinary. I prefer them to ordinary ones but Mr Nen doesn't so we have some and some. They don't take so long to cook, which I think is an advantage.
I'm walking with a friend this afternoon, which is just as well because it's overcast and chilly here and left to myself I wouldn't go at all, or I'd just amble round the block fiddling with my phone and pretend it was exercise.
Later we have our online wine tasting Zoom with friends which is always a treat and I'm going to sample the pink gin I received from Nenlet1 as a Mother's Day gift. I went out especially this morning to purchase (among other things) the Mediterranean tonic which I'm told is the necessary mixer (essential food journey). Then I'm doing green curry for tea which will be accompanied by a Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc. We've been enjoying the Barefoot Merlot a lot so I thought we'd give the white a try.
The Fries were the last in the bag, so an Expotition is called for.
Meanwhile, ordinary Baked Potato, and Irish Stew, beckon. I think (if I'm really careful) I may just be able to manage to cook them without destroying them...
Besides that delivery, we've been in receipt of a half case of wine, a dozen of Czech beer and the week's groceries. Moules et frites for dinner.
Sorry to hear about the cremation of the Sossidges and Fries @Bishops Finger . Baked potato and Irish stew sound good, though. I'm back from my walk and having stood for ages talking to my friend outside her house when we'd finished I'm thoroughly chilled and a hot hearty meal is just what's needed. I'll just head on round. Oh wait...
I go now to prepare the Baked Potato and Irish Stew (wot is in a Tin).
P’s sense of human was obvious though - the music at the start was Queen’s “Who wants to live forever” and “Another one bites the dust “to finish!
Budvar. Fond memories of a bar in Prague where that was the only beer, so you had just to hold up fingers corresponding to the number of flagons you required.
Even fonder memories of visiting the Staropramen brewery and drinking the stuff piped up directly from the tanks below...
Says he whose very name is a famous ale! 🍺
Bizarrely, Budweiser, of the same ultimate origin, is possibly the worst beer in the world. Certainly the most tasteless. God alone knows why it has a Light version? How is it different from soda water?
It's actually not as bad as the previous ones - outdoor exercise is not time limited, and you can go up to 10 km from home. I think the main idea is to keep those of in the most plague infested regions from transporting it around the country.
We had been planning a trip to the Seaside™ in April. We might still just make it if the lockdown isn't extended. <crosses everything>.
BF and Nen, you may help yourselves to my share of the sweet potatoes; I wish I liked them, but I just don't. I tried them in Newfoundland where, as with ordinary chips, they managed to make them simultaneously greasy and burnt - not a pleasant combination.
I'm enjoying a glass or two of Paddle Creek Sauv Blanc from New Zealand to accompany my risi et bisi - it really is one of the nicest, simplest dishes you could imagine.*
* I know it's Friday, and the Golden Chip may be in danger of going bust without my weekly order of scampi and chips, but I just didn't feel like it today.
This week has been busy: two of the staff, plus the boss, were all on holiday, leaving myself and B. (one of the midwives) more-or-less on our own. I feel that my contribution to the running of the office is very small in the General Scheme Of Things, but I do whatever I can. This week, that included stopping into Gr*gg's on my way in to get BACON rolls, to which she's particularly partial, thereby making her very happy.
On my way home on the train, I got a lovely text message from her to say thank you for making her week a bit more bearable. Have I mentioned before that I really love my new job and my colleagues?
I'm off on Monday (last day of this year's annual leave), and going to meet Coen, my new great-nephew, tomorrow, so it should be a much nicer weekend than usual.
I've just had an e-mail from BBC Account saying "welcome to I-player. You recently signed in to BBC I-player while signed in to your BBC account".
Er, what BBC account? Unless clicking on some of the links in replies here has given me one, whether I want it or not.
Either that, or the interweb really can read your mind.
Or did the government put something in that vaccine ...?
Where's that paranoid smilie when I need it?
I am currently trying to get bedtime finished with the aid of peanut butter toast.
Sorry - I couldn't resist the juxtaposition of yours and Pendragon's posts!
Seriously though, it looks genuine enough - the sending e-mail address is bbcaccount@bbc.co.uk, which you'd think would be kosher, and the logos looked right.
There was also a link (which I can't find again) that showed a still from Carols from King's, which I'm absolutely certain I didn't watch (I listened to the radio broadcast, but not the TV one), and that was on Christmas Eve - hardly "recent".
These scumbag scammers can make their shite look really convincing...
From addresses are easily spoofed.
The BBC is bbc.co.uk, not bbc.com - and anyway the link you see isn't necessarily the real link. Hover with your mouse over it to see where it really goes.
Example bing.com
The above link actually goes to google.
I doubt it has anything to do with conversations here - your email address is not visible here - that bit is coincidence.
I can remember one borderline fraudster trying to sell me some health product with a line of 'Your recent tests show...' - because us dotty oldsters are always having some test or other are we not.
Ah, That one! The number of times I've had that call my bank account ought to be empty by now!
It did cause Mr RoS some problems last weekend. I got the call on Friday, and on Saturday had a totally unexpected, un-ordered delivery from A..z..n. I suggested to Mr RoS that it might actually be that bit of technology, as the box was just the right size.
Shortly afterwards I got an email from Elder son saying that I shouldn't open my recently delivered parcel until Mothering Sunday - so, from him, as I had suspected.
Come Sunday Mr RoS had still not grasped that the parcel was not the subject of Friday's phone call, and I wasn't going to have to pay £399.00 for it.
It’s the internal post-graduate research conference today and I need to present my research proposal this afternoon so that’s exciting. I’m skipping my morning walk as I always get anxious before something like this and nervous that I will be late.
Makes sense, skipping is a lot faster than walking in my experience, just mind you don't turn an ankle.
That's all right then - I needn't worry about breaking yet more laws!
Time to get up and organised - I really ought to do some housework and have some brekkie before my brother and sister-in-law come to pick me up to go and meet Coen.
Just been for a walk looking out for magnolia trees. If we ever manage to move we want one, so are seeing what ones we like.
Without knowing your Internet habits, you may have created a BBC account ages ago to comment on a message board*, vote in a competition (Strictly?) or something else. The account suffixes fit (my account is at bbc.com) so it's probably not a scam/spam/etc.
On bbc.co.uk, click on 'My account' or similar at the top left of the page and it will tell you how to delete the account. You may have to log in first, but as long as you know the relevant email address you can reset it.
*Mine was set up years before iPlayer in order to comment on The Archers. The board was known as Mustardland due to its strangely-coloured background.
I work for a church, and was tempted to write "being a church". What would you have put?
That bit in Matthew about looking after the sick, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison etc. etc. - you know, all the stuff the *government* doesn't do...
I will probably get a visit from the Immigration people, as I put down my origins as *Part Irish and part French* - which is true, as my Ma's family on her father's side was Irish (Dubliners, no less), and my Pa's family may have originally come to England with William of Normandy...